Follow John Michael Higgins

John Michael Higgins

Date Of Birth

Biography

American actor John Michael Higgins was born on February 12, 1963 in Boston, Massachusetts. He started his performing career in music, at one point heading the a cappella group The Zumbyes while studying at the Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. He made his acting debut in 1986, when he starred in National Lampoon’s Class of ’86, and made occasional appearances afterwards, such as in the television shows Miami Vice and The George Carlin Show.

In 1996, Higgins earned wide recognition when he played late night show host David Letterman in the HBO television movie The Late Shift, in a performance that was mocked by Letterman himself (perhaps in jest) because of his lack of resemblance to the host, and his red hair. This was followed by more television guest roles, in shows such as Seinfeld, Party of Five, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show and Mad About You. He also starred in the films G.I. Jane and Bicentennial Man.

Higgins gained more recognition in the 2000s, when he scored recurring roles in different television programs. He played attorney-slash-therapist Steven Milter in Ally McBeal, senior partner Jerry Austin in Boston Legal, and lawyer Wayne Jarvis in Arrested Development. He also starred in films such as Evan Almighty, Fun with Dick and Jane and The Mighty Wind, a mockumentary by Christopher Guest, where he arranged the vocal harmonies sung by the New Main Street Singers. Higgins is also known as a voice actor, performing vocal duties for the animated series Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law and the video game Halo 2. He was later cast in the sitcom Happily Divorced alongside Fran Drescher.

Higgins is also an accomplished stage actor, having appeared in several plays all over the country. Notable roles include Donald Rumsfeld in Stuff Happens and the title role in Big Bill. He also starred in the off-Broadway productions of Tiny Alice and Jeffrey, and in the Broadway production of La Bute.